Range cluster switch



Se t. 30, 1952. w. R. CRAWFORD 2,612,133

RANGE CLUSTER SWITCH Filed April 25, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET l INVENTOR. WILLIAM R. CRAWFORD A TTOR/VE Y.

Sept. 30, 1952 w. R. CRAWFORD 2,612,133

RANGE CLUSTER SWITCH Filed April 25, 1950 2 s1-1EETs--sHEET 2 JNVENTOR. W/L LIAM R. CRAWFORD i El BY 7 f3 %WQ%ZZ A T TOR/VE X either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction ing of any one of the four control switches, is' supported by a bracket l3 behind the backsplash and above the rear of the cluster switch assembly. Light from bulb I2 is distributed to the region behind each of the windows 6 by a light distributing block M, the details of which will be described more fully hereinafter, the light 4 color which will eventually become associated in the mind of the user with the related operating condition of the heating unit. For instance, as shown, the off position is opaque, the simmer sector is colored green, the high sector is yellow and the sectors indicating intermediate heats have other colors as desired.

To aid those who may be color blind and to designate further to others the heat of the associated units, indicia Il may be provided on each of the sectors in position to appear centralized in window 6 at each operating position.

Switch blocks, having eight position control switches, of the type hereinbefore described are rays passing through translucent multi-colored indicating dials, generally designated l5, before emerging from the windows. fitted on each control shaft l I for conjoint rotation and. has a sufficient radial extent to completely cover the area of its associated window. As'described later, each dial may be provided with a plurality of colored sectors each of which imparts a characteristic color to its window as the-related shaft is rotated, signifying not only that the heating unit associated with the switch is on but also the intensity ofthe heat being produced.

. Operation j'fEach indicating dial is provided with an opaquesector it which is positioned behind its associated window when the related switch is in its off or de-energized position. Thus,*when all four ofthe control switches are in their 01f positions; bulb I2 is de-energized-and all four of the windows 6 ard ark. When any one of the switches'is turned on by rotation of its knob fi, bulb I2 is energized and its light rays are dis- One dial is force tributed to each of the indicating dials; however,

light can only pass through that window which is uncovered by the rotation of the indicating dial associated with the switch that has been turnedon. Since face 14 is opaque, he illuminated window stands out brilliantly against the dark background.

If otherswitchesare turned on subsequently,

the, associated indicating dials are rotated and the opaque sectors thereof are swung away from the 'related windows, thus permitting the; emer and indicating totheuser that; the heating unit has been turned off. ,Light bulb l2 remains ener- 7 gized until the lastof the fourswitchesis turned to the off position, a j

Sincethe electric circuit 1 associated with bulb l2 constitutes no part of the presentfinvention,

gized whenever any of the four switches is, turned on and that it will remain sc -energized until all ,ofthe switches are turnedoff.

mer high? and fivef intermediate heating-lposi s illustrated i F -J' re r ed' ii d1.-

. m n of he re en i ni n nw mfaiesa switch block having control switches with eight control positions, namely,' a'n off position, ffsim tionsbetween high and simmer. A corresponding number ofsectors are providedoln each indicating dial; each sector may be given a characteristic distributorblock tributor block. ring the switch'illustr' ed commercially available and may be purchased from Tuttle and Kift, Inc., Chicago, Illinois (catalog No. C-l52TG1) or from the Ark-les Switch Corporation, Watertown, Massachusetts (switch type 5050).

Cluster switches of the present typemay also incorporate infinitelyvarizible. controlswitches having motor driven proportional cam operation. This type of switch block may also be'obtained from Tuttle and Kift, Inc. and is designatedby theircatalogNo.45. l

When infinitely variable switches are used, indicating dials [5 maybe modified to the extent of eliminating the distinct boundaries between the colored sectors. Instead, th colors ofthedial gradually blend one into another'in a manner similar to the distributionof colors in a spectrum.

Since such a switch does not have distinct operating'positions but has an infinite range of ad- J'ustment, the user is aware oftheheat of the associated unit by reason of the color in window 6 which "color gradually changes from, for example, yellow to-red asthe intensity of the heat gradually increases. No other modifications are necessary to adapt the presentinventionfor use with infinitely variable switch blocks.

Y DetaiZs of light distributor block I Any material characterized :by a highfdegree of internal reflection and lightl transmissibility may be used to fabricate the distributor block. Theblock incorporated inithe preferred embo'di; ment is made of methyl methacrylate commonly known as Lucite, although other materials, having comparable characteristics, may be used.

The distributor block may be constructedm numerous ways.v The blockincorporateddr'i the preferred embodiment of, the invention consists ofla fiat parallelepiped having :a sloping top face [8 adjacent bulb l2 which defines an'aangle ,[9 of'6l.5 degrees. This peculiar angle,.for,: the-pro.- portions of the switch illustrated, facilitates ready penetrationof the light rays passing perpendicuflarlyfrombulb I2 to the sloping face ofi the The distributor block is 'formed'to define rcu'r it will not be illustrated or described;hereir r.:- It s s ssu b m t und t t ulbisenerr ilioliilbu li e gr v.1 332mm 1 found hat this a le readily assists the tributor block. These rays pass througlfthe associated indicating dials when the switch is turned on and emerg from the windows 6.

To facilitate the mounting of block M, a pair of mounting projections 24 and 25 are formed integrally adjacent the rear face and define apertures for engagement with a pair ofpins 26 which are formed integrally with switch mounting plate 8.

General assembly The cluster switch is assembled as follows: Switch mounting plate 8 is rigidly secured to switch block I. 'Ihereafter,-distributor block 14 is engaged with pins 26 and indicating dials I5 are force fitted on shafts l l in the proper angular position so that opaque areas l6 will cover the windows of the face when assembled. Bulb l2 and its bracket l3 are secured to one flange 9 of the switch mounting plate and the sub-assembly is then secured to tabs ID of the backsplash.

Face 4 is secured to bezel 3 by means of stamped tabs or other conventional fasteners (not shown) The bezel is then passed over the projecting ends of shafts II and secured to the front face of the backguard by conventional fasteners (not shown). The assembly is completed by the force fitting of knobs 5 on to shafts l I.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination in a cluster switch for installation in a range backguard formed to define an opening to accommodate the cluster switch, a switch mounting plate for attachment to the backguard, a switch block secured to said mounting plate, said switch block comprising a plurality of electrical switches having parallel projecting control shafts extending through the opening formed in the backguard, an opaque face obstructing the opening and surrounding the projecting control shafts, said opaque face being formed to define a transparent window adjacent each control shaft, an indicating dial secured for conjoint rotation to each of the control shafts in position to be observed through the window associated with the shaft, a light transmitting block secured to said switch mounting plate behind said indicating dials, said light transmitting block being formed to define a light receiving sloping face, a light source adjacent the sloping face, said block being formed to define a plurality of light reflecting faces :behind said indicating dials in alignment with the windows of said opaque face, said reflecting surfaces transmitting light from said light source perpendicularly through said indicating dials, each of said dials defining variously colored light-transmitting sectors, one sector of each dial being opaque, whereby the light transmitted from the reflecting surfaces through the dials and windows indicate the position of said switches associated with said dials, the opaque sector of each dial obstructing the associated window when the associated switch is in its open position.

2. An electric range cluster switch comprising a switch block provided with a plurality of individual control shafts associated with the switches of said switch block, said shafts projecting outwardly from one face of said switch block, said control shafts being mutually parallel and symmetrically located relative to the center of said switch block, an indicating dial secured to each of said shafts, said indicating dials lying within a common plane, a substantially flat opaque face parallel to the plane of said dials, the outstanding ends of said shafts projecting through said opaque face, said face being formed to define transparent windows each disposed inwardly of an associated control shaft and in front of its related indicating dial, each indicating dial defining a plurality of variously colored sectors, one of the sectors being opaque, a light source, a light distributing means comprising a rectangular block of material of high internal reflection extending from said light source'between said control shafts and positioned behind said indicating dials, said light distributing means having a plurality of angularly positioned light reflecting surfaces, each surface being disposed in alignment with a correspondingly positioned window provided in said opaque face, the reflecting surfaces directing light from said light source through said indicating dials and related windows, the opaque sector obstructing the associated window when the associated switch is in its open position, and a knob secured to each control shaft.

WILLIAM RICHARD CRAWFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS OTHER REFERENCES Bulletin: General Electric Ranges, 1941, p. 7 used, (Copy available in Div, 42.) 

